…leaders say those wishing party dead will be disappointed
Bode George, former deputy national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has assured Nigerians that those who thought the PDP would go under will be disappointed.
He stressed that the party would be reorganised to give President Bola Tinubu and his party All Progressives Congress (APC) a good fight in the 2027 elections.
George said this at the inauguration of the PDP Lagos State Elders and Leaders Screening Committee for the upcoming Lagos State party executive positions, held at the party Secretariat in Ikeja on Tuesday.
The Committee is headed by Charles Akitoye, while its secretary is John Danzu. Other members of the Committee are: Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Onikepo Oshodi, Aduke Maina, John Agbaje, Niran Adeniji and others.
George said the Committee is in line with the directive of the national body of the party, and the Committee’s assignment is to screen all those aspiring for executive positions in the party and ensure credible candidates emerge.
“It is the most critical job that the party required, mandated by the national body to screen candidates from the ward to state level. This is unusual; it is Lagos State internal job, to ensure our party at the state is stable before the national do its job.
“We are bringing civility, commitment, loyalty back to the party. The candidates for party executive positions must be solidly grounded in party affairs before the person is recommended to carry the load of the party.”
He added that, with the steps taken, the political gerrymandering of the PDP had come to an end.
George said the leadership of the party had decided to make the PDP a people- oriented party and focus more on alleviating the suffering of the masses.
“There is hunger and anger in the country. We need to alert Mr President that all is not well. We will reorganise our party to give President Tinubu a good fight in 2027”, he added.
He explained that the PDP had decided to do away with greed, avarice and self-centred people.
George said lack of commitment and loyalty in the party by some of its members make the party look like it has collapsed.
He noted that at the party’s last National Executive Council meeting, its leaders resolved that members of the executive of the party would be committed to the plight of Nigerians.
“Let us sell all these messages to the people of Nigeria, let us tell them we have the capacity, the knowledge, we have learnt the lesson to strengthen the party, to move the country forward.
“We can rejuvenate the country, that is the essence of setting up this screening committee, not everybody can come on board”, he noted.
Responding after the swearing-in, Akitoye, the Screening Committee chairman, said his Committee would do its best in the assignment given to it, and the assignment is the foundation for the rebirth of the PDP.
He added that if the Committee does it right in Lagos State, other States would follow.
